Dorian Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab 2005

I struggle with BPAL, often times there is a singular note that will kill a fragrance for me and many of their scents feel...a little old for my taste however Dorian is a simple, approachable fragrance. Quite sweet but very accurate southern style ice tea. When they switched suppliers however for the lemony note the scent became a bit funky almost acrid, its not their fault or anything but be wary that new bottles may have a funk/zing that the older bottles may not have.

No more and no less than what the description says: black tea served with lashings of sweet vanilla cream and pale musk.

Given that this is one of BPAL’s most popular and frequently recommended scents, I was expecting a bit more than it delivers. It’s warm, comforting, creamy, linear, and enjoyable but not particularly unique.

In fact, it’s actually somewhat reminiscent of Gris Charnel Eau de Parfum , if you stripped the warm spices and woody nuances from that fragrance.

Projection is fairly mild, and longevity is solid at around 8 hours. Gender is unisex, although the sweet creaminess may read as more traditionally feminine.